ELEGY

Elegy is one of those weird movies that I like thinking about far more than I liked watching. 

Elegy is one of those weird movies that I like thinking about far more than I liked watching.  It's an interesting story and the acting is superb, but for some reason it didn't exactly grab me as I sat in the theater.  Now, nearly three months after seeing it at SIFF, I'm still stewing on it.  For better or worse, it's a poignant, insightful film that speaks volumes about the fine line between adulthood and maturity.
 
David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley) is an established literature professor with all the trappings of a bona fide grown-up life.  He's got a failed marriage behind him, a grown son (Peter Saarsgard) with whom he barely communicates, and has reached the point where he can do just about anything (or anyone) he wants.  His most lasting commitments are to his dear friend George (Dennis Hopper), and his long-term "friend with benefits" Carolyn (Patricia Clarkson).  It's pretty great not answering to anybody, but (as David is about to learn) it's also pretty empty.
 
Though David has a policy of not sleeping with his students, it's open season once the quarter ends.  It's par for the course when he becomes involved with the much younger Consuela (Penelope Cruz), but he's expecting no more than a fling.  He's utterly confused when the relationship advances at a normal pace, and seems ill-equipped to take things to the next level.  Though he refuses to commit in any real way, he also struggles to allow Consuela her freedom.  The idea of meeting her parents leaves him squirming in his seat, but the thought of her going out dancing with friends sends him into a fit of jealousy.
 
Realizing that there's no hope of building a real a future with David, Consuela reluctantly cuts him loose.  Her sadness is palpable, but still David remains clueless.  Obviously he was just going to keep getting older and she would have left him anyway.  The relationship fails because he believes it will fail, and he can't address Consuela's needs because he's too busy worrying about his own.  One of the best things about Elegy is that it subtly illustrates what makes a man-child like David tick.  It's not blatant irresponsibility or apathy that drives his behavior, but rather severe insecurity and immaturity.  At his core, David is actually a reasonably thoughtful and likable fellow, and only an actor as multifaceted as Ben Kingsley could bring bring his better qualities to light.
 
Though David is undoubtedly well into his sixties, he has apparently never had the sort of life experiences that cause a person to grow up.  It's not until he faces the loss of loved ones that he finally stops fretting about his own mortality and steps up to support the people around him.  It's as if he realizes, for the first time in his life, that not everything is about him.  Though the circumstances are incredibly sad, we do see a nice character arc, and the changes in David will serve as a lasting tribute to those he has lost.  Overall, it's a classy movie that manages to be sexy, depressing, and poignant all at once.